Dear Editor,
I am grateful and appreciative for the assistance given by the Dutch government with the food program to the islands in general and St. Maarten in particular. Of the initial 16 million euros, approximately 3 million euros, which is approximately Ang. 5 million, was sent to St. Maarten for the food distribution program. The decision of The Kingdom Council of Ministers to extend this program with an additional 25 million euros in continuation of this venture is welcome.
What I am not clear on, is who are the local partners State Secretary Knops is referring to, when he said, and I quote, “The distribution of food parcels takes place under the coordination of the Netherlands Red Cross and in cooperation with local partners, including non-governmental organizations (NGOs). This working method will be continued,” end of quote.
A concern of mine has to do with regular complaints from persons who claim that their neighbor would get food packages on numerous occasions while they are neglected. In my opinion the department that has more data on the most vulnerable, the government’s Social Affairs Department, is being side-lined. It is unfortunate that these organizations, as useful as they are, can collect personal data without the permission or intervention of the Department of Social Affairs. I am quite aware of their independence, but the final responsibility for the people lies with the government of St Maarten.
When persons don’t receive their food packages they blame government, not the Red Cross, the NGOs or the local partners, whoever they are.
Again, let me reiterate that their assistance is highly appreciated. I say this because there is a saying “een gegeven paard moet je niet in de mond kijken”, or freely translated, “you don’t look a gift horse in the mouth”.
What I would like to know is who provides the Dutch government with the data on how many households receive these food packages. Minister Knops claims to know that tens of thousands of persons lost their jobs on the islands or have lost much of their income, but still insists on government cutting the salaries of these most vulnerable, which to me is compounding their misery. What an oxymoron.
I know this might sound like an impossible request which will fall on deaf ears, but it would bode well in the name of transparency if State Secretary Knops could give St. Maarten government and the islands of Aruba and Curaçao a breakdown with documentation as to how much funds were indeed spent assisting the most vulnerable on these islands, instead of throwing figures around.
If he wants to talk about transparency he should start with himself. After all, he keeps reminding us that it is the Dutch taxpayers’ money and it is the Dutch Red Cross. He claims to be extending a hand, but what one should ask is what’s in the hand he is holding behind his back. “Entity.” He keeps saying Dutch money, what does he expect since we are not allowed to borrow without their approval? Read article 29 of the Kingdom Charter.
I believe they can start showing goodwill towards the people of the islands and St. Maarten in particular by cancelling at least 80 to 90 per cent of debt owed to them which is almost Ang. 1 billion.
For the people’s information, the Netherlands after the First World War received aid in the amount of some 1.7 billion dollars. So, asking for debt write-off is not far-fetched.
One thing we must not lose sight of is the fact that the Dutch parliament is 205 years old, the Netherlands Antilles existed for 66 years, the Aruba government has 34 years under her belt and St. Maarten, the new kid on the block, will celebrate 10 years on October 10 of this year.
Mr. Knops remarks about an integral proposal (“entity”) being rejected. He forgot that we are well aware of the Esau and Jacob bible story where Esau let hunger make him lose his birthright. Who in their right mind will allow themselves to be completely recolonized?
Finally, when asked during an interview what is St. Maarten’s Plan B, Prime Minster Silveria Jacobs’ response was, and let me paraphrase, “Stay tuned” and to this I add Plan B is almost ready.
Member of Parliament George Pantophlet
